The Angelic Occurrence

by Henry K. Ripplinger

  “Yes, I know all about that. I was wondering, J.J., if you could come for a visit and bring Nora and my grandson of course?”

  “Marj, I am way too busy at this time, maybe next summer.”

  By then it may be too late.

  “Well, J.J., I am in the hospital right now. I had surgery last month to remove a tumour and it was cancerous.”

  Jenny wondered if in his silence, J.J. was thinking that she deserved to be punished for what she did.

  “Did they get it all?” J.J. finally asked.

  “No, they didn’t, J.J., and the doctor informed me the other day that it has spread.”

  Again, J.J. said nothing.

  “I would really appreciate it if you and Nora,” she couldn’t say the name James “and your son could come for a visit, even if it’s for a day or so.”

  “I’m really too busy, perhaps like I said, maybe next summer.”

  “Well, if you can find the time to come, please come.”

  “We’ll see,” J.J. said, still showing no indication of warmth or understanding in his voice. “Well, Marj, I am very tired. It’s been a long day.”

  “Yes, of course. I am sorry, J.J.. It’s been nice talking to you,” Jenny lied again. “Nora has my telephone number. Please call me at any time.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Well…bye, J.J..”

  Jenny was going to add that she loved him, but felt his depth of coldness still so strongly that any words of love or reconciliation at this time might just deepen the rift between them. Jenny heard the click in the receiver. Perspiration rolled down her back and arm pits. The receiver clung to her clammy hand, she had to use her other hand to free it. Talking to her son was like talking to her ex-husband, only worse. He was her son and she needed him and his love and support.

  She felt so alone.

  Jenny collapsed back on the bed, her strength depleted.

  “Oh, Lord, why is all this happening to me? Are you punishing me? I’ve tried to be a good person, but even my own son has disowned me. I have lost all the people I have ever loved.” Jenny couldn’t finish. She just wept all the more. Tears seemed to be the only way her aching heart could find some measure of comfort and relief.

  Both her hands came up to her chest as she turned on her side and drew up her knees. If only she could crawl back into her mother’s womb and start all over. She felt the angel and clutched it tightly with her right hand.

  “Oh, you are all I have left, please help me.”

  Fatigue and exhaustion overwhelmed her and within moments she had drifted off into a deep, deep sleep.

  The next day Jenny awoke at nine. A nurse was standing at her bedside when she awoke.

  “Well, you sure had a long rest. You slept for almost 11 hours. Dr. Kreake was here about two hours ago, but couldn’t wait for you to wake up. He will be back later this afternoon on his way home.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry I missed him, he should have woken me.”

  “We have held your breakfast. I will call to the kitchen and have them send something up for you in about a half hour.”

  “Thank you. I’m not really that hungry, though.”

  Thoughts about her conversation with her son returned and feelings of hurt and sorrow accompanied them. How could they possibly make up when he was so antagonistic towards her? Tremors of apprehension that he would never understand her side and never forgive her, reverberated through her. His feelings of hostility and utter disrespect for her demonstrated the night before sent fresh tears flowing again. The brief respite of strength she had enjoyed and hope that she was getting better faded; thrust out by a heavy fatigue.

  Twenty minutes later when nurse Edna came in with Jenny’s breakfast, she was in a state of peaceful repose. Once again, sleep had temporarily suspended her troubled consciousness.

  In the week which followed, Jenny started her new medication. The assault on her body was swift and immediate. She became sick and threatened to throw up each time she took the tiny blue pills. Thoughts of ever going home again faded; Dr. Kreake was right…a care home was now her destiny. She was glad that she had applied to several the previous week. Dr. Kreake had brought her a list and circled the ones that he recommended.

  The Nunnery Care Home had called. They said that they could keep her if her condition didn’t deteriorate further. They did however recommend the Santa Maria Home which happened to be second on Jenny’s list. They had an opening coming up at the end of the month and she would need to respond within two weeks to hold the room for her. The third home on her list was full at present, but they put her on a waiting list.

  “The Santa Maria Home is a very good care facility, Jenny,” said Dr. Kreake. “You need to find some place, soon. The hospital has already extended your admission privileges much more than they are able.”

  “Nobody wants me anymore,” Jenny tried to quip, but knew the sentiment was partially true.

  “Oh, Jenny, it’s not that, it’s just that there is such a shortage of beds.”

  “I understand, Dr. Kreake, the hospital has been very generous with me. I have been here for almost two months. I told Edna, the day nurse to call the Nunnery. It was once a convent and has a chapel which appeals to me. They can take me right away. I can try it there for a month and if it doesn’t work I’ll go to the Santa Maria Home. But, what about my home? I can’t expect my neighbour to look after it indefinitely.”

  “Well, Jenny, you just might have to sell it.”

  “You mean, make the care home my permanent residence?”

  “For now, Jenny move into the care home, try it for a while, and see how it goes? You will know soon enough if you can go back home or not.”

  “Yes, maybe that’s the best thing to do.” Even that speck of a glimmer of hope brightened Jenny’s eyes.

  “So, your son knows about your condition?”

  “Yes, I called him—”

  “And, is he coming to visit you?”

  “I am afraid not. He said he’s too busy.”

  “Too busy! You tell him to get his behind up here.”

  Jenny’s mouth twitched upward.

  “Why don’t you give me his number and let me call him?”

  “Oh no, it will all work out, I’m sure.”

  “Kids,” Dr. Kreake muttered, “You raise them, feed them, clothe them, care and worry over them and when you want them to reciprocate, they suddenly vanish.”

  “Oh, it’s not that bad. Young people nowadays are very busy.”

  “Too busy! Bah! Everyone is striving to get ahead, accumulating more and not taking the time to enjoy and appreciate what they have, especially each other and family.” Dr. Kreake was about to say more, but hesitated. Whatever he wanted to say stayed inside.

  “I really appreciate your concern, doctor. In my experience, things have a way of working out.”

  Two weeks before Halloween, Jenny was transferred to the Nunnery Care Home. The new medication helped stabilize her condition, but most days she still was too weak to get out of bed. The staff at the Nunnery were concerned that Jenny needed more care than their facility could provide

  On one of his visits, Dr. Kreake managed to get J.J.’s phone number. Jenny asked him to explain her condition and ask if J.J. would come home and arrange for the sale of her house and that he was welcome to take what he wanted.

  Dr. Kreake left his number several times, but his call was never returned. Dr. Kreake finally got through to J.J.

  “This is James Junior, what can I do for you? I am very busy.”

  “I understand your mother has called and informed you of her condition?”

  “Yeah, she said she has cancer.”

  “Her condition is very serious, in fact terminal. She could use the support of her family. Can I count on you and your family coming to visit and support her a
t this time?”

  “Like I said earlier, I am a very busy man and—”

  “I’m a busy man as well, Mr Hamilton but I have always considered family takes precedence over everything else. I would suggest that you don’t delay and come quickly. I don’t know how long your mother has and—” And this time it was J.J. that cut off Dr. Kreake.

  “I’m very busy and I have many things in the works, I just can’t drop everything—”

  “Look, if you were my son and he showed this kind of consideration for his mother we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We would be having one which would leave him so sore he wouldn’t be sitting down for the next six months. I suggest you grow up mister and have a close look at your priorities and get your ass down here pronto!”

  Dr. Kreake slammed the phone down, shook his head and walked down the hall.

  The attendants around the nurses’ station made every effort to contain themselves from jumping up and yelling out a loud hooray for the doctor!

  Two days later Nora called Jenny.

  “Oh, it’s so good to hear from you, Nora. I hope you have good news for me.”

  “Yes, Jenny, I was sure that J.J. wouldn’t be able to get away. I don’t know what your Dr. told my husband but when J.J. discussed with his dad what nerve the doctor had to talk to him in the way he did, Mr. Hamilton senior backed up the doctor one hundred per cent.”

  “So…will J.J. be coming?”

  “Oh, yes, we all are! J.J.’s dad instructed him to leave as soon as possible. We plan to be there towards the end of October or the beginning of November.”

  “Oh Nora, that is the best news I have heard in a long time.”

  The news perked up her spirits. Perhaps there is still hope for us and it was so good of James to encourage J.J. to come!

  Jenny wondered if she should tell J.J. about his half-sister? The question had plagued Jenny’s mind for a long time. It would be so wonderful if they could meet. Yet, would even she and Camilla meet? Her strength was waning by the day. Would she have the strength or energy to try and locate Camilla. And, what good would it do now? It would only disrupt the girl’s life. She obviously had such fond memories of her parents and to tell her that they really weren’t her parents, and to learn she had a mother on the verge of death, ready to abandon her again, wouldn’t be fair.

  “No, Jenny,” she chastised herself, “Leave things as they are.” At best she could call Mrs. Blake at the agency and let her know the circumstances and that if Camilla were to ever inquire she should at least know she has a half-brother. Some family connection would be better than nothing.

  But, how would her son take it? Would he even respond kindly towards Camilla? Or, would he respond to Camilla with revulsion like James did to her? J.J. was so upset and cold towards her, probably anything associated with her would be in his ring of wrath, as well. All her life she wanted a loving family so much, but all she’d experienced was anger, rejection, and hatred.

  The family situation so agitated her that the attending nurse had to give her a strong sedative.

  As she drifted off, her mind considered another possibility that assuaged her. Wouldn’t it be something if she could see her two loves before she passed away? She had always prayed that Henry would be the father to her girl. If only they had made love that day in the park. Perhaps another kiss, another hug, and it would have happened. And as the medication flowed through her veins, she reached out to Camilla and Henry standing gleefully on either side, “Quickly hold my hands,” …and, together, they hopped and ran barefoot through a meadow of wildflowers and there, on the other side was J.J., waiting with open arms.

  It was all so perfect…if only in her dreams.

  Chapter Fifty

  On a Tuesday evening the Diplomat Restaurant was quiet. Henry had requested a booth to sit at for more privacy and intimacy. Both of Henry’s arms were extended across the table, his hands entwined in Ivania’s. They were gazing into each other’s eyes for the longest time as Henry searched for a way to share his heart. Ivania wanted to know exactly where their relationship was at. Although they had spoken on the telephone, they hadn’t seen one another for almost a month. Ivania had known that Henry still wasn’t over the loss of Julean but always suspected there was something else. Ivania needed to know…

  Henry had always regretted not being more open with Julean. He thought the open truth would hurt his wife too much. He suspected she knew of Jenny but didn’t realize the extent to which she did and the hurt it must have caused her by him being silent about it. Perhaps if he had shared his heart earlier on in their marriage perhaps it would have been easier to accept and deal with. In any case, it was happening here again with Ivania and he didn’t want to make that same mistake again. It was only right to be totally open and honest to the lady who sat across from him.

  Ivania had a strong constitution, but Henry could see fissures in her demeanour. She liked him a lot, probably loved him and wanted to give him so much more. But she needed to feel that same love in return.

  Henry finally broke the silence and spoke from the heart. For well over an hour he shared everything. The day he and Jenny met and the incredible attraction that occurred between them in the grocery store. Their summer together, their separation, and how he never heard from her again. He thought he would never love another, until Julean came along. Feeling surely his heart would be healed, unbelievably the love in his heart for his first love just would not let go.

  Henry shared how Julean knew of his feelings and coped with it right up to the moment of her death. Even in her final hours she encouraged him to find his first love or to find another. He gazed into Ivania’s eyes in total sincerity and spoke softly, “I thought when you came along that I could begin again. You are such a wonderful lady and I am so fortunate that you came into my life. I am so fond of you but I just cannot let go of the past. When Mom died and I found the letter Jenny had written to me so many years ago, it was as if it were yesterday. My feelings erupted like a dormant volcano. My love for her has always been just below the surface. I just don’t understand it, Ivania, how the love that began one summer when I was fifteen is as strong today as it was then?’

  The flickering candle on the table caught the tears in Ivania’s eyes. Behind the sparkle, Henry could feel the hurt and disappointment. She sat motionless and speechless.

  What could she say?

  She had tried everything to win Henry’s heart, but her efforts were in vain. The words that finally spilled forth said it all.

  “My dear, Hen-dry, the women in your life have too strong a hold on you for me to come in.”

  She squeezed both of Henry’s hands and then withdrew them and hid them from view under the table.

  They continued to stare at one another. Their meal had come over an hour ago and neither had touched theirs. The chilled white wine had warmed and remained untouched as well. Even the waiter had sensed something was amiss and purposely stayed away from their table. Henry wished the waiter was not so sensitive and would come to break the growing tension.

  He liked Ivania a lot, and it pained him to see her hurt.

  Finally, Henry withdrew his hands and turned to the waiter who was waiting for his cue. He quickly responded and came over.

  “Can I interest you in a coffee or dessert?”

  “No, that will be fine. Could I have the bill, please?”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  The drive home was a repeat of most of their evening. They sat in silence as Henry sped along. Henry always dreaded this part of their dates as he sensed Ivania wanted a closer and more intimate relationship. He did too, but under different circumstances. It was so strongly entrenched in his character that sex was meant in a marriage setting where there was a commitment to love, honour and cherish one another. As much as he wanted to make love to Ivania he knew it would be for the wrong reasons and send th
e wrong message. It would be for personal gratification…

  Ivania got that message long ago and tonight, especially tonight, was no different. When Henry took her to the door she simply turned and pecked him on the cheek. She gazed into Henry’s eyes for a long moment and said, “Perhaps we can be friends…”

  Henry just stood there, tightened his lips and almost imperceptibly nodded.

  “Dad, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, son. But I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself for quite awhile. Is there something wrong?”

  “Yeah, there is. I didn’t want to trouble you with it. I don’t want to worry you and with grandma gone you’ve got enough on your shoulders…I know how much you miss her.”

  “I do miss Mom, Jeremy, but if you’re having a problem that takes precedence. Let’s sit down and have a coffee.”

  Henry hollered for the framer to come up and look after the gallery.

  The two men made their way to a table and sat down.

  “Can I get you both a coffee?” asked Tamara who was filling up the salt shakers nearby.

  “That would be great,” Henry said as he turned over the cup on the saucer. Jeremy did the same and Tamara immediately filled the cups with steaming coffee.

  After Henry emptied a creamer into his coffee, he took a cautious sip and asked, “So what’s troubling you, Son?”

  “It has to do with Camilla and me. Actually it has to do more with Camilla.”

  “What’s troubling her then?”

  “Well, it’s kinda, complicated and it even involves you…or it did.”

  Henry furrowed his brow and a puzzled look grew on his face.

  “Dad, do you recall how often you said Camilla reminds you of the girl you went out with when you were a teenager?”

  Henry nodded.

  “And do you remember how many times you thought Camilla’s parents didn’t resemble her at all?”

  “Yes, I do recall saying that, but I wasn’t the only one. Almost everyone was surprised to see Camilla stand by her parents and claim that she was their daughter.”